Posted on: 9:29 pm, October 1, 2013, by Alix Bryan, updated on: 10:28pm, October 1, 2013

Photo via the Island Free Press, taken by Don Bowers and Connie Leinbach.

Blue skies and mid-70s temperatures have the makings of a lovely day at the beach. Although summer weather might be sounding its last hurrah, and it might have been the perfect day to enjoy the beach at Hatteras and Ocracoke, most of the beaches were closed to the public due to the federal government shutdown.

The shutdown officially began at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday andby daylight Park Service personnel were already erecting barricades and chaining ocean and soundside beaches, according to the Island Free Press.

Here is what is open and closed on the national seashore, based on info from the Island Free Press :

In Pea Island and other refuges visitor centers are closed and public access is not allowed on the beaches and trails.

In a news release today refuge manager Mike Bryant explained further, This means all public uses of these national wildlife refuges cease completely no hunting or fishing even hunts for which people have been issued special permits, like the Pungo Hunt scheduled for this week.

It means no birdwatching, no walking on the beaches or trails, and no driving to see bears. It means that these federally-owned lands are closed. The closure also includes Visitor Centers and offices. For refuge employees, it means no work. No checking e-mails, no posting on web pages, no management activities, and no public programs on or off the refuge. The few Refuge staff we have working will be limited to activities that protect of life and property or communications internally concerning the closure.

Store owners report frustration from visitors and residents alike.

People have to get creative about water access, and in Ocracoke need to know someone with private sound-side access. The 16 miles of beach and all of the soundside access not in Ocracoke village are on National Park Service land.

The rest is here:

Overnight Ocracoke and Hatteras beaches and landmarks closed